Summary
On the newest episode of LiveWell, we explore how nature, community, and purpose are transforming Veteran care with Dr. Kaitlyn Fruin, UCLA preventive medicine fellow, and Air Force Veteran Cyntrea Cotton, founder of the Veterans Garden Initiative.
This inspiring episode reveals:
- How therapeutic gardening is easing PTSD, anxiety, and depression for veterans.
- Why growing organic food can support whole-person healing—from the inside out.
- The challenges and triumphs of reviving a 15-acre clinical garden on VA grounds.
Cyntrea shares her personal journey of struggling with panic attacks, isolation, and chronic stress—and how reconnecting with the earth sparked her recovery and purpose. Katie walks us through the science and systems behind food as medicine, highlighting how gardens can be powerful entry points for mental and physical health. If you’ve ever wondered how nature can heal trauma, build community, and restore well-being, this episode will plant a seed.
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More about Dr. Kaitlyn Fruin
Current fellow at UCLA’s Preventive Health and Medicine and graduate of UCLA Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency, Dr. Fruin provides primary care to veterans experiencing homelessness at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, inpatient care to residents of the San Fernando Valley at Olive View Medical Center, and Angelenos from across the county seeking quaternary care at UCLA Ronald Reagan and Santa Monica hospitals.
Dr. Kaitlyn Fruin’s past research focuses on how improving economic development and financial health can improve physical and mental health outcomes. Her focus as of recently at UCLA’s Preventive Medicine is utilizing the economic and medical rationale to promote organic, healthy sourced food as preventive medicine.
More about Cyntrea Cotton
Cyntrea Cotton, born and raised in New York, former U.S. AirForce veteran and founder of the Veterans Garden Initiative, non-profit organization dedicated to creating therapeutic gardens for veterans.
